I have seen some rod makers that use in their handles very thin cork rings; some of them even 24 insteed 12, as I think is the most normal.
Do you know why is like that?
Greetings from Spain,
Ra.M
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caldera river |
Why 24 cork rings insteed 12? |
Lead | ||
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Hello to all,
I have seen some rod makers that use in their handles very thin cork rings; some of them even 24 insteed 12, as I think is the most normal. Do you know why is like that? Greetings from Spain, Ra.M |
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Trout120 |
#1 | |||
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That's a good question. Is it because of the lesser grade cork being available? Wouldn't it be harder to make with the thin corks though?
I myself like the 1/2" cuts. Just wondering too. Trout120 |
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PaducahMichael |
#2 | |||
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Quite a few antique rods used 1/4" or less rings as that's what was available in those days. It looks good - some rod makers just like that look, I
think. It's more work, but an interesting option.
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bobbeegee |
Itsy bitsy teeny weeny rings | #3 | ||
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I have no idea why a maker would use the small 1/4" rings, but I sure like that "look"!
I don't believe I've ever seen a rod with such a handle that was not of high quality? Bob
Go Heels!!! |
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Tim Anderson |
#4 | |||
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Quarter-inch cork rings are more common on today's European rods, partly because those are the rings readily available. The finished grip looks nice
because the irregularities only go for 1/4" along the length of the grip.
Tim |
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cwood |
Scott bamboo rods | #5 | ||
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They have the nicest cork I've ever seen on a rod; completely flawless. Where in the world did they get such cork. There was one for sale on the forum a
couple days ago, may still be there, and the pic shows a perfect grip with no imperfections at all.
Last Edited By: cwood 05/07/2009 21:30.
Edited 1 time.
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Gnome |
#6 | |||
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The classiest cork grips are the 1/8th inch rings as originally popularised by the KOSMIC crew.
They have a charm that other cork grips just do not have. Your gnome Jeff |
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canerodscom |
#7 | |||
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If there is a flaw, or pit, or occlusion with a 1/4" ring, it is only half as long as with a 1/2" ring.
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BruceHandley |
#8 | |||
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This question of grip styles got me to looking around at some of my rods, something I'd not payed much attention to in the past.. There is a good bit
variation, even within rods made by the same makers.
Most of my Landman rods, but not all, used 1/4" cork rings. However on one of his rods he used sheet cork wrapped with wire and on another the grip and reel seat are all one and made of lancewood or sumac. The rod with the wood grip is marked as John Landman maker and T. Conroy retailer. I have two Thomas rods that have a mix of 3/8" and 1/2" cork rings. One rod is marked with his "sole agent" and the other is a trade rod made for Abbey & Imbrie. The A& I rod also has rolled and soldered ferrules and they aren't by Landman. One of my Heddon rods has 1/8" cork rings, this is a #14, circ. 1927. While I don't think of this rod as top of the line, its a neat rod with the bass decal and inter. wraps. And yet my first #13, circ. 1930/ 1931 has all 1/2" cork rings, go figure. And then you have the early Orvis rods (I have a few) and each of these has a grip made of 6 strips of sheet cork, when did they switch to 1/2" rings, I have no idea. And as to Divine, near as I can tell they all have 1/2" cork rings, even the pre 1900 rods. But don't hold me to that as I didn't check them all. Bruce |
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bobbeegee |
#9 | |||
BruceHandley wrote:That is a very neat rod Bruce! Could you possibly post a picture sometime? Bob Go Heels!!! |
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bluejayee |
#10 | |||
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Hi Guys, And then there are 1/16" rings! I like 1/4". You can have better average quality. Jay Edwards
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BruceHandley |
#11 | |||
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Bob, I'll work on getting some pictures up later today.
Bruce There's a neat story that goes with this rod, which I'll add to the pictures. |
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Mrdi |
#12 | |||
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The thinner the cork rings the more glue-ups.
The more glue ups the more strength. The closer the glue ups the longer the wear factor. Albeit weight must be factored as well. |
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Trout120 |
#13 | |||
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With all that glue wouldn't you lose the softness?
Trout120 |
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creakycane |
These Olaf Kundrus rods have thin cork | #14 | ||
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The cork is good quality, no difference in feel I can notice.
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BruceHandley |
#15 | |||
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Good evening Bob-
As per your request I'm posting 7 pictures of the Heddon 14. This rod, by the way, is 9', 3/2, all sections full-length. It also came with the original bag and the bag stiffener.
The way I got this rod is a bit strange. After I retired from GE, I worked in a local Orvis tackle shop for a number of years. One day a guy walks in whom I've never seen before in my life and he wants to know if I'm the person who works with bamboo rods, and he has a rod bag in his hand. So I said yes, and he asked if I would like to buy this rod. He then lays the rod out on the counter and what I'm looking at is an original Heddon model 14 that has the typical varnish meltdown, the start of a delamination on one tip, a few wraps missing and wonder of wonders, the female ferrule on the butt section is only halfway on. The female ferrule also shows signs of pliers marks. When I inquired what the hell happened to the butt section, he informed me that he had tried to reset the ferrule with Crazy Glue. He got the ferrule halfway on and, of course, it set up. He wasn't able to get the ferrule off or on, hence the pliers marks. I informed him I did not want to buy the rod at which point he asked if I'd be willing to swap the rod for something. I asked him what he had in mind and he asked if I would swap some salmon flies for it. Now this sounds like a pretty good deal to me being as how I make my own salmon flies, so I go out to the van, get 5-6 boxes of salmon flies, bring them in and open them up on the counter. At this point the seller looks as though he's just found the key to the candy store. So he asks how many he can have. I told him he could have his pick of any of the boxes for a total number of 12 flies. So after agonizing over this for awhile, he ended up with a dozen salmon flies and I ended up with a rod. Now fast forward about 2 years in my workshop. The Heddon 14 has spent the last 2 years or so in my "junk barrel" while I tried to figure out how the hell to get the ferrule off. One day it got down to kill it or cure it time. I put more than a fair amount of heat to the ferrule, at which it shot across the workshop like a bullet, riccocheted off my fly-tying bench and went into the corner. After a short period of rooting around, I found the ferrule and, much to my surprise, it was none the worse for wear. So I proceeded to restore the rod, cleaned up the female ferrule as best I could (and if you look closely at the picture of the female ferrules you can see some of the pliers marks that would not come out) and the rod looks as you see it here. And to the board members that say they would never have a rod they couldn't fish, I'll tell you straight up that I've never put a line on this rod and have no intention of doing so. When dealing with somebody that sets ferrules with Crazy Glue, it's hard to guess what else he did. Bruce |
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bobbeegee |
#16 | |||
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A wonderful rod Bruce, and a better story on how you acquired it!
That bass decal is a wonder! Thanks much for taking the time to post the pictures. I enjoyed them immensely! Bob p.s. Your restoration work is quite fine Bruce. Go Heels!!!
Last Edited By: bobbeegee 05/07/2009 21:33.
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kermit |
6" grip with 1/8" rings, 7' 3wt | #17 | ||
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tapermaker |
heres one i did with 1/4 " rings last yr. | #18 | ||
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